New railway stations urged along Charleville-Cork line as council seeks better services

Council officials say planned housing growth makes improved rail and bus connectivity essential across Cork and neighbouring counties

Irish Rail is planning to open a new station at Monard, near Blarney, on the Charleville route. Picture: Larry Cummins

Cork County Council is calling for additional railway stations between Charleville and Cork City, as well as a clearer timetable for the delivery of planned rail projects in the region.

The council also wants better rail and bus connections to existing and proposed stations, particularly as thousands of new homes are planned along several railway corridors.

The demands were made by senior Cork County Council officials, led by chief executive Moira Murrell, in a submission to Irish Rail as part of a public consultation on plans to enhance rail services in the region.

Irish Rail is planning to open a new station at Monard, near Blarney, on the Charleville route. However, the council is asking it to consider additional stations along the line, particularly in light of proposed increases in train frequency to and from Mallow.

Ms Murrell said the planned M20 motorway scheme could also create opportunities for improved access to railway stations.

“The proposal to route the M20 scheme adjacent to the rail corridor in some locations and the development of interchanges present opportunities for improved access and routes to develop rail stations and this should now be considered,” she wrote in the submission.

New stations in east Cork

Ms Murrell and senior planning and transportation officials also said the “timely delivery” of a proposed railway station at Water Rock, west of Midleton, would help residents of the thousands of homes planned for the area “to develop sustainable travel patterns from the outset”.

Road congestion around Midleton has become chronic, while the N25 between the town and Cork City is already under significant pressure.

The council's County Development Plan, which sets out plans for future growth in the region, identifies significant housing development along the railway corridors connecting Glounthaune, Little Island, Carrigtwohill, Midleton and Cobh.

It also identifies housing growth along the Charleville line, particularly in Mallow.

The council said the planned housing and commercial development in these areas would be important in underpinning the future sustainability of improved rail services.

Ms Murrell said the council had developed a number of cycleways in east Cork which will connect with existing and proposed railway stations, including the proposed station at Ballynoe, on the northern side of Cobh, and Carrigtwohill East.

Calls for better bus links

The council's submission said it is “critically important” that reliable bus services are developed to connect with railway stations.

It said this should apply not only within the Cork metropolitan area but also for people living in West and North Cork, Kerry and West Waterford.

The submission is due to be supplemented in the coming days with further input from councillors.

Fianna Fáil councillor Frank O’Flynn said Irish Rail must provide later trains from Dublin to Cork.

“The last one departing Dublin is 9pm and should be pushed out to 10pm as it was some years ago when the ‘mail train’ was operating,” he said.

Fianna Fáil councillor Gillian Coughlan said passengers should be able to book railway station parking at the same time as purchasing their rail tickets.

She said people often arrive at Kent Station in Cork to find that all the parking spaces are occupied.

Social Democrats councillor Eamonn Horgan said earlier trains should be scheduled from Midleton to Cork, as passengers are currently unable to connect with the first morning train to Dublin.